Therapeutic-bath.



Patented Unt. 28,'l |902.

zNo. 7|2,436.

THERAPEUTIC. BATH. (Applikation mea my 4; 19.150.)

. (No Model.)

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ANTON PFIsTER-scI-IMIDHAUSER, or sT. GALL, SWITZERLAND.

TH ERAPEUTIC BATH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Iatent No. 712,436, dated October 28, 1902.

Application tiled May 4, 1900.

T0 all whom. it may con/cern,.-

Beit known that I, ANToNPnIsTER-SOHMID- HAUSER, a citizen of the Republic of Switzer-f land, residing at St. Gall, Switzerland, have invented new and useful Improvements in Therapeutic Baths, (for which I have tiled patents in Belgium, March 16, 1900, application No. 117,275; in Great Britain, March 20, 1900, numbered 5,295, and in Germany, January 29, 1900, numbered 129,388 and 129,389,) of which the following is a speciication. y

This invention has relation to therapeutic baths; and it has for its object` the provi,- sion of means whereby certain portions ofthe body can be exposed more directly than others to the action of the therapeutic agent, suc as hot air, vapor, or the like.

The accompanying drawings illustrate by vertical sections a therapeutic bath embodying my invention.

Figure 1 shows the appliances for directing the iow of vapor in their relative positions to cause such vapor to flow through the seat only. Fig. 2 shows said appliances in. their respective positions to cause the vapors to flow both through the seat and into the lower part of the compartment for the lower limbs and thence into the'upper part of the bath, and Fig. 3 shows said appliances in their respective positions to cause the vapors to Iiow through the compartment for the lower limbs only and thence into the upper part of the bath.

The bath consists of a suitable box open at top and divided by a seat 25 and a foldable partition 29 30 into three compartmentsnamely, an upper compartment 24, a lower chamber 22, containing the vapor-generator 23 ot' a well-known construction, the means for supplying heat to the boiler being omitted in Fig. 1, and a front compartment 27 for the legs, the licor of which compartment constitutes the foot-rest. The seat 25 is an open or slat seat supported from asuitable frame 26, secured to the box-walls, and to thefront end of said seat is hinged the section 29 of the aforesaid sectional partition, section 30 of which is hinged to said section 29, so as to fold thereon, as shown in Fig. 2, so that vapor from the generator 23 will flow about the lower part of the legs into compartment 27 Serial No. 15.528. (No model.)

and thence into the upper compartment 24:, such vapor also liowing direct from the generator-chamber through theslats of the seat. To prevent the section 30 from dropping when folded onto section 29, as shown in Fig. 2, I provide a hook-latch 32, pivoted to one of the side walls of the boX, or such a hook-latch maybe provided at either side of the seat 25. By unlatching the section 80 and allowing it to drop, .as shown in Fig. 1, the liow of vapor to the leg-compartment is cut oft', the partition 29 30 itting the opening in the vertical wall between the generator and leg compartments.

The foldable partition 29 30 is larger than the seat-supporting frame 2G, so that by lifting the seat into a vertical position said partition 29 30 can be swung under it, as shown in Fig. 3, thus forming a closure between compartments 24 and 22 and preventing vapor from rising through the seat, all the vaporvfrom generator 23 iowin g through the aperture in the vertical wall between compartments 22 and 27, as will be readily understood.

Of course it will be understood that in conjunction with'the bath described a suitable covering provided with an aperture for the passage of the head of the patient and not permeated or readily permeated by the therapeutic agent is used, as is the general practice, to prevent said agent from iiowing or readily owing from the upper compartment of the bath.

`Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new therein, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A therapeutic bath, comprising a chairlike structure provided with a projecting elevated foot-rest, said structure closed on all sides except at top and forming with the foot- `rest intercommunicating compartments for `the body and legs, an opening in thebottom lof the structure, a vapor -generator fitting `said opening, an open-work seat above said generator and foot-rest and means for direct ing the vapors through the seat only, or throu ghfthe leg-compartment or through both, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

2. The combination with the box or case, a seat-supporting frame and a movable slat IOO seat dividing said box into upper and 1owe1` compartments, and a compartment 27 in communieation with said lower compartment; of the foldable partition 29 30 hinged to the forward end of the seat and operating substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

ANTON PFIS'IER-SCHMIDHAUSER.

Witnesses:

JOSEPH SIMON, JAKOB ABDERHALDEN. 

